FG approves polytechnic for Akwa Ibom

The Federal Government has approved the establishment of a Federal Polytechnic in Ukana, Essien Udium Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.

Already, a take-off grant of N1 billion from Education Trust Fund has been approved for the institution billed to commence classes in September this year.

Governor Godswill Akpabio, who on Friday received President Jonathan’s approval letter from the Minister of Education, Hon. Ezebunwo Nyesom Wike at the Governor’s Office, Uyo, remarked, “On behalf of myself and the good people of Akwa Ibom State, we appreciate President Jonathan for this kind gesture in finding the state worthy of establishing a federal higher institution in the state and we are very glad about it.

“Our state is a state that is on the right track in the educational sector. Already, we have introduced the free and compulsory education for the benefit of all the children in the state, the siting Federal Polytechnic in the state is a welcome development”, he stated.

Akpabio further stated that “The Federal Government has already provided a take-off grant of about N1 billion for the project. And in our way of supporting the Federal Government, we have decided to rehabilitate the existing Independence High School in Ukana as a temporary site for the school, which studies would commence by September of this year”.

He then congratulated the Rector of the new Federal Polytechnic, Prof. Oluma Joseph and other principal officers of the institution, assuring them of the cooperation of the state government.

Speaking earlier, the Minister of education, Wike, had hinted that the Federal Government saw the commitment of the state government in the areas of development, that was why the Federal Government saw the need to establish a federal higher institution in the state.

Wike who said that the Federal Government appreciates the state government for the capital development in the state, encouraged the state government to do more, thanking Governor Akpabio for the support given to the Federal Government through development.